Fourth Annual Give Big initiative raises over $1.2 Million for 194 local nonprofits!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 11, 2018

CONTACT:
Bridget Wilkinson,
Bozeman Area Community Foundation
(406) 587-6262, bridget@bozemanfoundation.org
www.GiveBigGV.org

Fourth Annual Give Big initiative raises over $1.2 Million for 194 local nonprofits!

Gallatin County, MT – On May 3rd and 4th, neighbors from all over Gallatin County came together for the fourth annual Give Big Gallatin Valley initiative, the largest day of giving in our county’s history! In just 24-hours, Gallatin County blew by the goal to raise $1,000,000 by raising $1,282,177.42 for 194 organizations through 4,742 donors! This tremendous success makes Give Big the largest giving day in the state. Since its inception in 2015, Give Big, hosted by the Bozeman Area Community Foundation, has helped our community raise over $2,652,177.42 for 194 nonprofits throughout Gallatin County.

“We are amazed. Our goal to raise $1,000,000 was a big stretch goal for the Community Foundation! We are humbled by the outpouring of support and generosity that led our community to surpass this goal. While the dollars raised is so important, we are most proud of how many donors were engaged in giving. This year, our goal was to inspire 4,000 donors to give through Give Big. We were thrilled to exceed that goal by engaging 4,742 donors to make a gift to a cause they cared about most,” said Bridget Wilkinson, Executive Director for the Bozeman Area Community Foundation.

One Give Big donor, Jennifer Boyer, explained why her family gives through Give Big each year. “Our family participates in Give Big because it is a way to celebrate our community and to feel connected to this special place and people. Our son directed many of our contributions which is a great learning opportunity about caring for others, animals and our planet,” said Boyer.

During this year’s initiative, our entire county was buzzing with excitement. In Bozeman, Donor Lounge events hosted by local nonprofits lined Main St. In Belgrade, local nonprofits hosted a Donor Lounge events at the Mint Bar and The Local American Saloon. Nonprofits in Big Sky collaboratively hosted a kickoff event at LUXE Spirits and Sweets to start the Give Big fun!

One nonprofit leader, E.J. Porth from the Gallatin Valley Land Trust said, “Give Big is an incredible tool. It’s an opportunity to deeply engage our Board, staff and advocates in philanthropy. It created a feeling of togetherness and put the fun in fundraising! Give Big cultivated energy and community pride like I’ve never seen before. We’re grateful to be a part of it.”

“Often, it’s hard to understand our individual impact when we support nonprofits we care about most. However, during Give Big, community members can see that our collective impact as a community can be greater than our support alone,” said Wilkinson. “Every year, we’re humbled by the outpouring of support for our local nonprofit community during Give Big. Without our hard-working nonprofit partners, generous community members and local businesses, this initiative simply would not be possible!”

For more information, please contact Bridget Wilkinson at 406-587-6262, bridget@bozemanfoundation.org or go to www.GiveBigGV.org to learn more.

About the Bozeman Area Community Foundation

Established in 1998, the Bozeman Area Community Foundation is connecting people who care to causes that matter most to them. The Bozeman Area Community Foundation serves the areas of Bozeman, Big Sky, Belgrade, Manhattan, Churchill, Three Forks, and the rural areas in between. Since its inception, the Foundation has distributed more than $2.6 million dollars to 194+ local nonprofit organizations. Learn more at www.bozemanfoundation.org or www.givebiggv.org.

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